Dr. Charles Hoge, Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret.)is a nationally-known expert on PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), mTBI (mild traumatic brain injury) and other physiological reactions to war, as well as treatment strategies for war-related conditions. Dr. Hoge's expertise spans psychiatry, trauma, public health, health policy, and infectious diseases. His articles and book, Once a Warrior, Always a Warrior , are the most frequently cited articles about the impact of the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and on the troops coming home.

Allan O'Keefe is a ten year law enforcement officer, promoted to the rank of Detective and past President of the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators (FAHN).

Det. O'Keefe was selected as a member of the Sheriff's Office Crisis Negotiations Team where he responded to numerous volatile barricaded suicide, suspect and hostage situations requiring specially trained negotiators to resolve the crisis. He is an expert in Crisis Intervention, Hostage Negotiations, Suicide, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

MG Mark & Carol Graham

Suicide Prevention, Untreated Depression, Stigma elimination.

Lifetime Achievement Award Winners by The National Council

The Invisible Front by Yochi Dreazen, based on The Grahams' story

After losing two sons to different battles, The Grahams are tireless champions of military and civilian efforts to promote mental health and suicide-prevention awareness, and to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health care.

Currently, MG Grahams is the Senior Director of Military/Veteran Support Services with Rutgers National Call Center.

Together, The Grahams speak at conferences, seminars and workshops to help others survive grief and understand depression as well as to help prevent suicide. They are advocates for wounded Soldiers and their Families as they continues to speak out to raise awareness to the dangers of untreated depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

Judge Ginger Lerner-Wren

Focus on Solutions, Human Rights, Avoiding Trauma

2015 National Council Award of Excellence Honoree

Prolific Huffington Post Contributor

Finalist, 2013 Successful Innovation Award presented by the HiiL Foundation at The Hague.

Presently and since 1997, as creator of the first Mental Health Court to decriminalize mentally ill, Judge Lerner Wren has become an internationally recognized expert for advocating on therapeutic justice aimed specifically at mental health cases.

The criminalization of serious mental illness is just one of a longer list of negative and cascading consequences, which includes homelessness, poverty, family erosion, co-occurring addictive disorders, crime and suicide. At the front-lines, Lerner-Wren has established a sustainable collaboration between individuals, providers and systems; a key to achieving positive outcomes and preventing these negative consequences

Sgt. Kevin Briggs

Crises Intervention, Suicide Prevention, Practical Tools & Skills

Author, The Guardian Of The Golden Gate: Protecting the Line Between Hope & Despair (July 2015)

2014 TED Talk The Bridge Between Suicide & Life (1.9M+ Views)

Sergeant Kevin Briggs (Ret), also known as the Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge, is a former California Highway Patrol officer who has stopped hundreds people from jumping off of the Golden Gate Bridge. As a member of the CHP for over twenty-three years, with the majority of those years patrolling the Golden Gate Bridge, Sgt. Briggs discovered early that his job required him to take on an unusual role for a police officer: suicide prevention counselor. "Since 1994, through sheer compassion and expert listening skills, Sgt. Briggs has helped convince more than 200 people on the precipice of death not to take their lives." - People, Oct. 3, 2013

Jennifer Storm

Victim Advocate, Addiction and Recovery

Author of Blackout Girl: Growing up and Drying out in America

Author of Leave the Light On

2014 TEDxTalk: Resiliency & Recovery

Currently the Victim Advocate for the State of Pennsylvania, Jennifer Storm presents one woman's recovery from addiction, trauma and adversity and identifies key components of what can help a person turn their lives around. An out of the box first responder, Jennifer has changed the rules and laws to support and protect both adult and juvenile victims of all crimes.

Jennifer Storm is the ultimate survivor turned thriver having recently chronicled her own story of victimization and recovery in her memoirs: Blackout Girl: Growing up and Drying out in America and Leave the Light On. She actively discusses victims' rights, addiction and recovery, and civil rights.

In 2005, Kevin attempted to take his life at The Golden Gate Bridge...for 96 minutes, with nothing to stop him from falling except a listening ear, Kevin spoke with a first responder who eventually talked him back over the railing.

Since, he has presented his story of hope on THE IMPACT OF LISTENING to national audiences and has been featured by multiple media outlets.

Today, Kevin Berthia is a grateful Suicide Prevention Advocate, encouraging period to talk through their problems rather than think about ending their lives. Kevin believes that depression may be a part of you, but it is not who you are.